Twelve Reasons Why the Green Home Market Is Ready to Surge

If you need convincing about the marketability of green building, author Jerry Yudelson offers up a dozen reasons why green is the way to go. 1. The commercial and institutional green building market continues to grow at more than 50% per year (see Figure 1). In 2005, LEED-registered projects and project area grew by more than 50%, and LEED-certified projects grew by nearly 100%. LEED statistics indicate considerable growth potential for the green home market. Some of the LEED projects are multifamily residential structures, typically above three stories. 2. The new federal energy bill (Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 2005, or EPAct; see Table 1), which provides increased incentives for residential solar systems; prolonged oil prices above $60 per barrel; and natural gas prices above $8–$10/MMBtu ($0.80–$1.00 per therm) have changed the psychology of the consumer for the first time since the oil price shocks of the 1970s. New credits for home builders should spur more investment in energy-efficient homes. 3. In November 2005,DOE’s Energy Information Administration raised its projected 2025 oil prices, in today’s dollars, from $33 (2004 forecast) to $54 per barrel, a 65% ...